The article includes Dr. Patel‘s expert commentary on the correlation between how your skin care feels on your skin and the effectiveness of it.

“When ingredients stimulate the nerves in the skin with burning and tingling, it creates a sensation that the product is doing something and that it’s working,” says Purvisha Patel, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare .
“Just because a product tingles doesn’t mean it’s more effective—nerve sensation is not correlated to skin outcome.”

This all doesn’t mean that having those satisfying sensations with your skin care is a bad thing—there are just certain ingredients that give off that burns-so-good feeling. “Alpha-hydroxy acids or fruit acids are exfoliants that tingle with use as the ingredient is going into the skin,” says Dr. Patel. While in the case of menthol or camphor, this is a localized, commonly non-threatening reaction, other tingles could be signaling that a product is too intense (especially in those with sensitive skin). “If products make you tingle, they may actually be too strong for you and should be avoided,” says Dr. Patel. “Also, allergic reactions and burning of the skin can start with skin tingling, which is not a desirable result from skin care.”

So, yeah—if you’re swiping on a serum or a face mask, for example, and that tingling turns from satisfying (and ultra-quick) to steady and not going away, use caution. “If the sensation lasts for more than a few minutes, if the skin gets red or inflamed, and if the skin starts to peel, it could mean there’s an allergic reaction to the product and it should be washed off,” says Dr. Patel. “If it still persists after washing off the product, consult a board-certified dermatologist.” Also important to note: Keep those products away from especially sensitive areas, like around your eyes, she says.

The article includes Dr. Patel‘s expert commentary on the overuse of skincare products and recommendations on proper use.

With the beauty and skin-care market constantly evolving, it may be very tempting to try every new product that hits the shelves. From face masks to moisturizers, there’s not a day, week, or month that doesn’t go by where a new product isn’t marketed for all skin types. But just because there are so many products to choose from – each with their own benefits and promised results – does that mean you should try as many as you’d like?

You should also be considering what order you’re applying your products

Though it may not seem as if that really matters, since you apply your products two (and sometimes three) times a day, ensuring that they’re done in the correct manner can save you a lot of time, money, and frustration. Dr. Purvisha Patel – board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare . – said that the correct order to apply your product on your skin should be from thinnest to thickest consistency going from serums, to oils and moisturizers and finishing off with an SPF > 30 during the daytime.

The article includes Dr. Patel‘s expert commentary on the over use of eye cream. “If you use too much eye cream at one time, initially the excess product will pill and the product will not stay in place or work properly,” explains Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare. “If you use a lot over a long period of time, you’ll be rubbing it in to get it to absorb. Constantly pulling on the skin of the eyelids can increase collagen breakdown over time which could lead to more fine lines and wrinkles.” So when they say to give that sensitive area around your eyes some TLC, be sure to not sleep on the tender part of the equation. And ya know: Less is more.

The article includes Dr. Patel‘s expert commentary on shaving your legs, armpits, bikini area, or any other place you may feel like shaving, adn when you might want to avoid it.

While you certainly don’t have to overthink the whole hair removal process, there are situations where you might want to avoid shaving for the sake of your comfort, as well as your health. This goes for shaving your legs, armpits, bikini area, or any other place you may feel like shaving — if that’s something you like to do.

And here’s why. “When we shave we create tiny micro-nicks in the skin that disrupt the skin barrier and leave the skin more vulnerable to irritation and infection,” dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, tells Bustle. “Because of this it’s important to not expose freshly shaved skin to situations that could lead to irritation or infection.” Of course, you can’t always time it right, and may end up shaving right before an unexpected turn of events. But if you can time it right, your skin will thank you.

Shaving correctly can be a big help, too. “The best time to shave is at the end of a warm bath or shower. The moisture and steam soften the hairs and make them easier to remove,” Dr. King says. “Apply a shaving cream, gel, or oil and use a sharp razor blade. Shave with the grain and make only one pass. And afterwards apply an emollient to soothe the skin and keep it moisturized.” With that in mind, read on for the times you may not want to shave, according to experts.

If You Have Ingrown Hairs

If you have razor burn or ingrown hairs, wait until the area is fully healed before shaving again, so you don’t spread an infection, or make that razor burn worse.

When You’re Cold

Ever get goosebumps when you’re standing in the shower, possibly while waiting for the water to get fully warm? That’s not the time to shave.

“When you are cold, the hair follicles are raised, your shave will be tighter to the skin, and you could have razor burn [or even] shave the top layer of skin off the follicles,” Dr. Patel says. “The best time to shave is when your body is at room [temperature] or warmer, probably when you are in the shower or taking a bath.”

The article includes Dr. Patel‘s expert commentary on the use of snail slime in skin care.

You can oat-milk matcha-latte your way out of a lot of the symptoms of a crappy night’s sleep, but there’s one thing that no amount of caffeine is going to fix after you’ve spent multiple hours tossing and turning: the dark circles that stake out under your eyes. Womp womp.

But leave it to Ashley Graham—who always look gorgeous and well-rested, despite running a full-blown empire and traveling non-stop—to have found the answer. According to a recent Instagram story, the model-slash-mogul turns to snail slime to help banish the bags under her eyes.

Snail mucin (the slime’s technical term) is actually beloved in the K-beauty community for its hydrating properties, and is known to leave skin looking plump and moisturized post-use.

“From soothing irritated skin to deeply hydrating dry skin, snail secretion filtrate offers a host of anti-aging benefits,” says co-founder of Soko Glam and esthetician Charlotte Cho, who notes that the ingredient is versatile enough to work for any skin type. “It also contains anti-microbial properties to ward off bacteria.”

Its status as a hydration hero, then, is what makes snail mucin so effective for treating under-eye bags. “Most of the fine lines around your eyes are a result of dehydration,” explains Cho. “Topically applying snail mucin to the skin is helpful because it contains peptides [and] hyaluronic acid, so it brings a boost of deep hydration to your epidermis.” This, she says, firms and lifts your skin, which is exactly what the area under your eye needs after a long flight, a bad night of sleep, or—you know—when you’re hungover as hell. Board certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare, Dr. Purvisha Patel, seconds these benefits, noting that snail mucin is believed to contain enzymes that help exfoliate dead skin cells and aid with moisture retention.

The article includes Dr. Patel‘s expert commentary on the overuse of skincare products and recommendations on proper use.

With the beauty and skin-care market constantly evolving, it may be very tempting to try every new product that hits the shelves. From face masks to moisturizers, there’s not a day, week, or month that doesn’t go by where a new product isn’t marketed for all skin types. But just because there are so many products to choose from – each with their own benefits and promised results – does that mean you should try as many as you’d like?

Of course, there’s nothing wrong trying what you want and even using multiple products at one time, but have you ever questioned the number of products you’re using? Likewise, have you ever considered if there were such a thing as using too many products on your skin?

You should also be considering what order you’re applying your products.

Though it may not seem as if that really matters, since you apply your products two (and sometimes three) times a day, ensuring that they’re done in the correct manner can save you a lot of time, money, and frustration. Dr. Purvisha Patel – board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare – said that the correct order to apply your product on your skin should be from thinnest to thickest consistency going from serums, to oils and moisturizers and finishing off with an SPF > 30 during the daytime.

The article includes Dr. Patel‘s expert commentary on Vitamin C and skin health.

Along with popularity and the cult-fave status, comes some mystery—vitamin C serums, famous for their brightening and free-radical-fighting benefits, are recommended by skin pros and dermatologists alike, and yet, there are still plenty of questions that arise when you’re face-to-face with them on the skin-care shelves.

But boy, does it mean business. In part, superstar ingredients, like vitamin C, require some testing to figure out what works. The ingredient comes in different concentrations, in different textures, and in different bottles that are meant to help it from oxidizing and going bad. To know how to make the most out of vitamin C and make it work harder for your skin, here’s the unfiltered 411 on what to look for.

The vitamin C checklist for brighter skin

1. Know the concentration: As far as the concentration goes, it really depends on your skin type. “It’s important to know if you have sensitive, dry, or oily skin when choosing a concentration of vitamin C,” says Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare. “Start low with 10 percent and then work your way up over a few months as your skin gets used to it.” According to her, you’ll commonly find vitamin C in products at between 10 to 20 percent concentrations because that’s “acidic enough to go through the epidermis.”

And yet, vitamin C is notoriously hard to stabilize. “When antioxidants, especially vitamin C, are exposed to oxygen and light, they begin to break down,” she explains. “Within six months of opening, the content can diminish to 2 percent or less, leaving you with oxidized vitamin C, which is actually known to irritate the skin.” With vitamin C, write the date opened on the pack and use it within 6 months. So…

2. Make sure the packaging’s right: First of all, it’s key to be using a vitamin C serum instead of a cream, for example. “It’s imperative that the vehicle the vitamin C is delivered to the skin is a serum because it’s a water-soluble molecule that’ll best traverse the outer layer to the dermis where it’s needed in a water-based vehicle like a serum,” says Dr. Patel. Besides that, the bottle of the product is actually important. “Make sure you’re buying a vitamin C product in a bottle that won’t let it oxidize. It should be in an opaque container that’s airtight since it easily degrades in oxygen and sunlight,” she says. Walsh adds that you should avoid clear or light bottles, and opt for an air-tight pump as opposed to a dropper applicator to prevent oxidation from happening.

3. Read your skin: So what exactly should you be watching for on your face when you’re figuring out whether a product is doing its pigment-diminishing, skin-brightening job? “Your skin should be smoother, softer, and more glowy,” explains Dr. Patel, and you’ll see the first (subtle) signs in a week or so. “Some of your dark spots should be a bit lighter, as if you’ve had an exfoliation. Then, over the months there should be a decrease in dark spots and a thickening of the skin. There may be less breakouts as well.” AKA you’re looking great, honey.

“You’ll not see the above results if it’s not working,” says Dr. Patel. “If your skin gets too dry or peely after using, then the concentration may be too much for you, or you may be allergic to one of the ingredients in the serum.” And that just means it’s time to do the detective work to figure out which formula is right for your skin.

There’s nothing more annoying than going through your 10-step skin-care routine thinking it will give you glowing, radiant skin…only to be left with a finish that more closely resembles a pilling old sweater. You know what I’m talking about: When something mysterious in your beauty regimen decides to start rebelling, and instead of soaking calmly and obediently into your epidermis, forms into tiny balls that sit on top of the surface and just. won’t. go. away.

Since no one wants their skin-care to resemble winter layers that’ve been washed a few too many times, what gives? “Pilling happens when you are rubbing a skin-care product on the skin and it never quite soaks in. As you rub it in, the product is pilling, or collecting on top of the skin,” says Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare. “It means the product’s being hindered from absorbing and is just coming back off. There’s an occlusive barrier that’s preventing absorption, and it happens if too many products are used at the same time, or in the wrong order.”

You’ll know there’s a potential pill-causer in your product if you see ingredients ending in -icone, -conol, or -xane, according to Dr. Patel. So think of the product with polymer as saran wrap: Everything you put on top of it won’t penetrate what’s underneath. You can still use them, though—just be sure to do it wisely. Dr. Patel’s tip? “Apply products from thinnest to thickest, starting with water-based serums to thicker creams.” It’ll also help if you simply use less products that have more active ingredients, which means you’ll get the maximum results with minimum layering.

The last bit of advice to follow? Make sure you’re exfoliating enough. The dead skin cells on your face need to be removed, and if they aren’t sloughed off, they can form a blockade that keeps your products from entering your complexion. “Exfoliating properly before product application also helps to remove oil and residue that could hinder product absorption,” adds Dr. Patel. Now you’re on your way to pill-free product use 365.

The article includes Dr. Patel‘s expert commentary on the use of silver in skin care.

Gold-infused skin care has been around for a while. The luxe ingredient is known to have anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, amongst others. But did you know silver is also a beneficial skin care ingredient? And it’s about more than blingy Insta-worthy beauty bait.

Skin Care Benefits of Silver

Colloidal silver (small nanoparticles of the element suspended in water) has been used for centuries on skin because of its healing properties, says Dr. Purvisha Patel, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare.

You’re probably wondering whether the silver used in skin care is the same as the silver used in jewelry. Patel says they’re essentially the same with pure silver being an element on the periodic table. “In jewelry, it is mixed with other metals to give strength and flexibility for the design,” she says. “Colloidal silver is silver particles in suspension.”

The article includes Dr. Patel‘s expert commentary on examining moles.

You should know the difference between skin spots in order to find potentially dangerous diseases like skin cancer. “An easy way to decipher if a mole on your body is normal or potentially harmful is to use the ABCDEs,” says dermatologist Purvisha Patel, MD, creator of Visha Skin Care. This handy American Academy of Dermatology method, which stands for asymmetry, border, color, diameter, and evolving, will help you determine if you should schedule a screening with a dermatologist. “When observing a mole on your skin the first thing you want to look at is its shape—is the mole asymmetrical?” she says. If both halves are the same, it’s probably fine. Next, “An atypical mole will not have a defined border,” she says. If yours looks irregular, get it checked. “Notice if the color of the mole is all one shade or if it varies—a healthy spot will be one consistent color,” Dr. Patel says. “The diameter of melanoma [skin cancer] is usually greater than 6mm, or the size of a pencil eraser.” Finally, “is your mole evolving in size and/or shape?” she says. If so, have it checked by a medical professional.